Related Events

Jason and Kris Spaulding, Brewer Vivant’s co-owners, during a live video chat at Brewery Vivant, which was streamed at grbj.com.

During a live video chat Thursday at grbj.com, Brewery Vivant’s co-owners, Kris and Jason Spaulding, discussed their plans to expand their distribution footprint to several potential states — and invited the beer community to weigh in on the decision.

The video chat mostly focused on the brewery’s history and philosophies, but a user question turned the conversation to the topic of distribution.

Prior in the chat, the Spauldings said Brewery Vivant was at about half of its possible capacity of 5,000 barrels a year, with its current distribution in Michigan and metro Chicago.

In response, the pair revealed the possibility of expanding Brewery Vivant’s distribution to one of the following states: Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio or New York.

Jason Spaulding said a distribution representative from New York came to the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival and showed interest.

He said the brewery likes the scene in New York, specifically the beer and food pairing potential.

The expanded distribution could begin at the end of 2013 or in 2014

The Spauldings invited customers to vote for which market they should enter.

Which state would you like to see Brewery Vivant beer next — Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio or New York?

Restricted Content

About GRBJ

Since 1983, the Grand Rapids Business Journal has been West Michigan's primary and most-trusted source of local business news. The weekly print edition of the Business Journal, a must-read for the area’s top decision-makers, is known as the business newspaper of metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon and all of West Michigan.

grbj.com provides the same trusted and objective business reporting that the Business Journal is known for -- plus real-time original content, timely enewsletters/alerts, exclusive blogs and more. Business Journal subscribers receive the weekly print edition, including bonus publications like the annual Book of Lists, and also complete access to all content on grbj.com.

The Grand Rapids Business Journal is published by Gemini Publications.